Sample Schedule 
Below is a schedule you can use or you can make up your own. Customize the sample program below, or create your own, to make a meaningful Sleep Out experience for your group. 

6:00pm | Check-in starts 

• In keeping with the spirit of a night without extra luxuries or comfort items, we suggest a no-frills dinner. Consider passing out brown bag meals with a sandwich, a piece of fruit, and a bottle of water, similar to the lunches the homeless receive on the streets. ● Prior to the Sleepout, you would have instructed participants about what they were allowed to bring. This is not a sleepover or campout. The list would have been minimal and aligned with what the homeless have. As people check in, give them apost it note, or pieces of paper and have them number 1-3. On it, they will write the top three things they brought with them that they thought they would want if they became homeless. During the live stream you will be given further information about these slips of paper. If you cannot live stream, don’t worry, the team leader will take the next steps.

7:00pm | Program begins  

• Welcome message from event organizer and/or group leader, then line up and eat dinner. Make it a meal seen out on the streets often, maybe sandwiches and chips with bottled water. Do not give a lot of options as homeless people do not have a lot of options,

9:00pm Pastor Ed and First Lady Diane of Matthew’s Light will begin live streaming Facebook 
● Share a bit about Matthew’s Light 
● Share a bit about Sleep Out (what it is, what it isn’t) ● Fundraising recognition.  
● Thank and celebrate your top fundraisers! In addition to those at the top of the leaderboard, consider recognizing the person who received the highest number of donations (rather than amount), or any creative fundraising tactics. 
● Share 1-2 stories from people who have faced homelessness 

9:15pm | Interactive activity 

• Select 1-2 activities 
  ● The goal is to get people talking with each other, building community, learning, challenging their ideas of homelessness. These activities will be in the email sent to each team leader.

10:00pm | Sleep Out 

• It’s time to settle in for the night! Remember the following:
  ● You should only sleep somewhere that is safe and legal
  ● You should not bring any luxury bedding items (air beds, pillows, etc); we suggest only a sleeping bag and something to lay it on (a trash bag, yoga mat, picnic blanket) 
  ● Dress for the weather — if it is cold, wear layers! 
  ● Remind people to set an alarm for your morning reflection 
  ● Identify an indoor area where people can come in from the cold or use the bathroom if needed. Consider having a volunteer in that area all night, in case people have questions or want someone to talk to (it can be an emotional experience!) 

7:00am | Breakfast & morning reflections 

• Allow people to come in from outside slowly — they will be groggy!
  ● Breakfast can be light (e.g. coffee and granola bars) or hearty to mirror the warmth and relief people feel when they find shelter
  ● Ask 1-2 volunteers to lead morning reflections 
  ● Be sure to create time and space for these! Morning reflections are often people’s experience 
  ● Either before they go or in an email later that day, remind participants to thank their donors and share their experience with friends and family. 

**Remember to take pictures throughout the event. We want to remember what it feels like and to create inspiration for others to do their own sleepout events. 

**October 11, 2025 is Matthew’s Light’s normal outreach downtown. All participants are encouraged to come down to the outreach to witness first hand what our homeless neighbors endure on the streets.